Wolf Watch

Wolf Watch is St. Francis’s weekly e-newsletter to our parent community that shares announcements for each grade level and updates on school activities and events. Wolf Watch is updated weekly throughout the school year, so check back every Sunday for the latest on St. Francis happenings.

For this week’s news, please select the appropriate section below.

News for the Week of March 26

All School

Thursday, April 6, Is an Early-Release Day
In honor of Easter weekend, please note that Thursday, April 6, is an early-release day for all divisions:

Primary School students will be released at 11:00 a.m.
Lower School students will be released at 11:15 a.m.
Middle School students will be released at noon.
Upper School students will be released at noon.

In addition, Friday, April 7, and Monday, April 10, are both school holidays.

FoFA News: Congratulations, Mr. Doran!

We are proud to announce that our very own Justin Doran, Director of Fine Arts, will be recognized by Theatre Under the Stars as Arts Educator of the Year! This is a well-deserved honor for Mr. Doran, but also an endorsement of the fantastic arts programs at St. Francis. If you would like to attend the TUTS recognition event to cheer for Mr. Doran, please join us on Friday, April 28, at Tony’s. Email Amy Pierce to RSVP.
Please mark your calendars for our school-wide Arts Festival on Monday, April 24, through Sunday, April 30. Details will be provided soon.
Our next FoFA meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 11.

SOTP: Registration for Jump Into PI, PII, and K Is Now Open
Summer on the Point registration for Jump Into Primary I, Jump Into Primary II, and Jump Into Kindergarten is now open. For more information about summer camps, click here.

Primary School

From the Primary School Spanish Teacher
My main objective as a Spanish educator is to teach our students the importance of other languages, cultures, and traditions, hoping they will fall in love with all they learn. One of the benefits of learning Spanish in Primary School is how we can infuse examples of Spanish culture into class project work, songs, and different school events.

During Spanish class, students learn through games, projects, dances, and songs, among other things. They are encouraged to speak the language, too, which motivates them, helps them feel proud, and increases their confidence in using Spanish. As a teacher, I do my best to model and encourage curiosity and the determination to continue to learn about other cultures. In doing so, I hope to help our students feel confident that they can apply what they are learning—in and out of the classroom—with great confidence and authenticity.

As Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio Emilia approach, said: "The wider the range of possibilities we offer children, the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences." Providing children with the opportunity to learn a second or third language opens new possibilities for the ways they can connect with and explore the world.

Our Spanish classes in Pre-Primary, Primary I, and Primary II support language development and learning about other customs and traditions, which offers the following benefits for young children:

Increased cognitive ability and focus
Improved communication
Improved abilities in analytical and creative mathematics
Strong neural connections, due to experiences in multiple languages

I am grateful for the opportunity to guide our students and to learn alongside them in our Primary School!

Que tengan una linda semana,

Claudia Schoelman
Primary School Spanish Teacher

Mark Your Calendar

Monday, March 27

Open Library

Tuesday, March 28

Chapel: 9:30 a.m.; Primary II parents may attend

Wednesday, March 29

Chapel: 9:30 a.m.; Primary I parents may attend
Primary II Fathers and Friends Picnic: 11:00 a.m.

Monday, April 3

Pre-Primary Play Day (Britton and Husain)
Open Library

Tuesday, April 4

Chapel: 9:30 a.m.; Primary II parents may attend

Wednesday, April 5

Chapel: 9:30 a.m.; Primary I parents may attend

Thursday, April 6

Early Dismissal: 11:00 a.m.

Friday, April 7

Good Friday Holiday: No school

Monday, April 10

Easter Monday Holiday: No school

Tuesday, April 11

Chapel: 9:30 a.m.; Primary II parents may attend

Wednesday, April 12

Chapel: 9:30 a.m.; Primary I parents may attend

Friday, April 14

Primary II Plays

Monday, April 17

Open Library

Tuesday, April 18

Chapel: 9:30 a.m.; Primary II parents may attend

Wednesday, April 19

Chapel: 9:30 a.m.; Primary I parents may attend

Friday, April 21

Parent Conference Day: No school

Sunday, April 23

St. Francis Festival: 1:00 p.m.

Lower School

From the Division Head
Technology is a big part of our lives—both at home and in the Lower School. Games, apps, messaging features, and technology devices are constantly evolving, requiring us to keep learning about ways to keep ourselves and our children safe while engaging with technology. Last Tuesday, we held a parent information meeting about cybersafety. Kaitlynn Frey, Programs Manager at Crime Stoppers of Houston, led the presentation, sharing information about the dangers posed when using apps, games, and chat features.

If you were not able to attend the meeting, I do hope you will review the presentation handouts and watch the recording using the following links:

We will be hosting future parent meetings provided by Crime Stoppers of Houston, and we hope you will join us for those, as well!

Kind regards,

Clifton Walker, MEd
Head of Lower School

Mark Your Calendar

Monday, March 27

Chapel for Grades K–4
- 8:20 a.m. in the St. Francis Episcopal Church Sanctuary
- Please be advised that there are limited parking spots in front of the school.

Tuesday, March 28

Second-Grade Biome Bonanza
- Quine and Wagner: 10:00 a.m.
- McCormick and Shindler: 1:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 30

Chapel for Grades K–4
- 8:20 a.m. in the Fine Arts Center
- Please be advised that there are limited parking spots in front of the school.

Friday, March 31

Fourth Grade Performs Friends (Music Program): Students in grades K–2 attend from 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. in the Fine Arts Center
Fourth Grade Performs Friends (Music Program): Third grade attends from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center

Monday, April 3

Chapel for Grades K–4
- 8:20 a.m. in the St. Francis Episcopal Church Sanctuary
- Please be advised that there are limited parking spots in front of the school.
First-Grade Field Trip to Nature Discovery Center: Student-only event
- Breeding and Hitchcock: 9:30–10:15 a.m.
- Jules and DuByne: 10:15–11:00 a.m.

Thursday, April 6

Maundy Thursday Eucharist Chapel for Grades K–4
- 8:20 a.m. in the St. Francis Episcopal Church Sanctuary
- Please be advised that there are limited parking spots in front of the school.
Lower School Early Dismissal: 11:15 a.m.

Friday, April 7

Good Friday Holiday: No school

Monday, April 10

Easter Monday Holiday: No school

Tuesday, April 11

Art à la Carte In-Person Orientation: 1:30–2:30 p.m. in the Hogan Board Room

Thursday, April 13

Chapel for Grades K–4
- 8:20 a.m. in the St. Francis Episcopal Church Sanctuary
- Please be advised that there are limited parking spots in front of the school.
Art à la Carte Zoom Orientation: 1:00–2:00 p.m.

Middle School

Message From the Head of Middle School for a Day
Fifth-grader Fletcher S. won the right to be Head of Middle School for a Day at last year’s St. Francis Festival, and served as the division head on Thursday, March 9. Fletcher made a big announcement at the end of Middle School Chapel and met with the grade-level deans, the Howlers coach, the Head of School, and our Director of Facilities. He also visited multiple classrooms, gave advice to several school leaders, and helped with carpool drop-off and pickup.

For this week’s Wolf Watch article, Dr. Williams interviewed Fletcher about his experience at St. Francis. The highlights of that interview are included below.

What is your favorite thing about St. Francis?
Let me think. That’s tough. How everybody knows each other and the teachers know you well. If it was a giant class or school, that might change. The teachers are nice, and they care about making you smarter.

Have you had a favorite teacher here at St. Francis?
Either Ms. Peña or Ms. Nguyen. I think I’m going to go with Ms. Nguyen, but a close second is Ms. Peña and third is Ms. Cruzalegui.

What is your favorite memory from Ms. Nguyen’s class?
We did this art project, and my friend was about to put his painting away. On Fridays in Ms. Nguyen’s class, we had short dance parties for the last few minutes of advisory. We were listening to the Circle of Life song from The Lion King. Ms. Nguyen took her thumb and dipped it in the wet paint and then wiped it on my friend’s forehead like Rafiki did to Baby Simba before presenting him to the rest of the animals in the Pride Lands.

What do you like most about Ms. Peña?
Ms. Peña is very fun. She didn’t just give us worksheets. She would help us to learn by playing games. Her methods were fun, but they helped us learn. She invited everyone to participate in the class; she didn’t just include a few kids.

Why are you enjoying Ms. Cruzalegui’s class so much?
She sometimes has music playing to get us relaxed, and we will do a moment of zen to get us calm before class. We will use food, games, music, and sports to help us learn Spanish. She doesn't just give us a bunch of charts to memorize, but she makes learning fun.

What do parents need to know about St. Francis?
The teachers are nice, and the adults here try to get to know everybody and make them as smart as possible.

What is one thing you would change about St. Francis?
I would probably change how EARLY the school day starts. I feel that 7:45 is early.

What is one thing that we should never change about St. Francis?
I think you should not change the size of the classes, because if you increase the class sizes to 20–25 students per class, then it will feel crowded. The 14 or 15 students we have in each class now feels perfect for St. Francis.

Canstruction Ingathering Is This Week!
We are happy to announce that Canstruction, the annual Middle School Ingathering, will take place this week—Monday, March 27, through Friday, March 31.

Students are encouraged to be people for others by bringing canned goods (soups, meats, beans, etc.) to their advisory beginning tomorrow—Monday, March 27. Items will be used to build structures and then will be donated to a local food bank.
Students will build their structure in Advisory on Wednesday, April 5.

Thursday, April 6, Is an Early-Release Day
In honor of Easter weekend, Middle School students will be released at noon on Thursday, April 6. Please note that Friday, April 7, and Monday, April 10, are both school holidays.

Seventh-Grade AALC Field Trip Is Wednesday
We are excited about our upcoming seventh-grade Art à la Carte field trip this Wednesday, March 29, to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, a Hindu temple in Stafford. As this is a house of worship, the temple has very specific dress-code requirements, and we are asking students to wear modified Spirit wear on this day. Please note the following:

Both boys and girls must wear either the uniform shirt or a short- or long-sleeve St. Francis Spirit wear shirt with khaki pants, blue jeans, or long athletic pants.
Shorts and skirts are not permitted in the temple. (Your child will be given a sarong to wear if his or her knees are showing.)
Students will be required to remove shoes during their visit.

Volunteers Needed for Seventh-Grade Medieval Faire Day
Seventh-grade parents, please save the date for this year’s Medieval Faire Day on Friday, May 5!

ABOUT MEDIEVAL FAIRE DAY
Medieval Faire Day is a fun-filled day spent exploring multiple cultures during the medieval time period. Students immerse themselves in the different cultures by participating in interactive and hands-on activities that highlight art, music, food, clothing, weaponry, and daily life in Medieval Europe, Japan, and the Arabian Peninsula. This event fully aligns with the seventh-grade World History curriculum students have been studying.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ON MAY 4 & 5
In order for this day to be a success, we need lots of moms and dads to volunteer—both on Thursday, May 4, to help with setup as we transform multiple parts of the school, and during the entire Medieval Faire Day on May 5. A SignUpGenius link will be sent soon. We look forward to seeing you!

MS Service Hour Opportunity: Volunteer at Festival!
Setup and cleanup shifts are available to Middle School students who would like to earn service hours by working before or after the St. Francis Festival on Sunday, April 23. Click here to sign up!

Mark Your Calendar

Monday, March 27–Friday, March 31

Canstruction Ingathering: Bring canned goods to Advisory

Monday, March 27

Dress Uniforms
Middle School Chapel: 9:50 a.m. in the St. Francis Episcopal Church Sanctuary
Fifth-Grade Bible Study: 12:45 p.m. in Mrs. Flores’s room (boys’ Bible study) and Mrs. Gutierrez’s room (girls’ Bible study); both rooms are right off of Crum Library

Tuesday, March 28

Regular Uniform

Wednesday, March 29

Regular Uniform
Seventh-Grade Art à la Carte Field Trip to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir: The temple has very specific dress-code requirements, and we are asking students to wear modified Spirit wear on this day.
- Shorts and skirts are not permitted in the temple. (Your child will be given a sarong to wear if his or her knees are showing.)
- Both boys and girls must wear either the uniform shirt or a short- or long-sleeve St. Francis Spirit wear shirt with khaki pants, blue jeans, or long athletic pants.
- Students will be required to remove shoes during their visit.

Thursday, March 30

Regular Uniform
Middle School Chapel: 9:50 a.m. in the St. Francis Episcopal Church Sanctuary

Friday, March 31

Spirit Dress: Students may wear SFES Spirit shirts with jeans or uniform bottoms
Seventh-Grade Bible Study: 12:15 p.m. in Mrs. Flores’s room (boys’ Bible study) and Mrs. Gutierrez’s room (girls’ Bible study); both rooms are right off of Crum Library

Upper School

From the Division Head
I remember sitting down with a young man and his family years ago, discussing how he could perform better academically. As usual, the adults did a majority of the talking, and there were a lot of adults in the room: mom and dad, the advisor, the learning specialist, and myself. I often wonder about the efficacy of those meetings, when a young person—who may very well feel shame and diffidence about their performance—finds themselves surrounded by their betters.

Anyhow, we came to a point in the conversation when we were talking about missing homework, the importance of meeting with teachers, and how a student plans out their day. The student crossed his arms and said, “Why do I have to do any of that? All teachers are required to post homework, quizzes, and tests.”

He wasn’t wrong. Teachers are supposed to do that, but it was such a passive response. It also established a theme of reliance on others. At that point, I asked the adults if they had planners. Mom pulled out an Erin Condren calendar; dad pulled out an old Day Runner in a leather binder that had seen a lot of life; and one teacher opened Outlook on a computer, where you could see scheduled “planning time” and “grading.” I pulled out my AT-A-GLANCE. We were all functioning adults who knew we had to use some sort of medium to plan out days, whether that was a physical planner or an electronic calendar.

This made a strong impression on the young man. Each of the adults around him was a professional. His parents were very successful at their jobs. To drive home another point, his mom mentioned that she ran the family calendar in addition to running her law practice!

We have to have some sort of organizational system in place to manage our lives. While we are thankful for Veracross, our Learning Management System, it’s vital to understand that it is only one part of the puzzle. There are so many other parts of our lives: birthdays, soccer tournaments, vacations, jobs, etc. Part of a private school education is saying “yes” to the many things that are available to us, but—most importantly—learning how to juggle all of them.

Warmly,

Marc Addington, MA
Head of Upper School

Mark Your Calendar

Monday, March 27

“B” Day
Regular Uniform

Tuesday, March 28

“A” Day
Regular Uniform

Wednesday, March 29

“B” Day
Regular Uniform
Upper School Chapel: 10:00–10:30 a.m. in Crum Gym

Thursday, March 30

“A” Day
Regular Uniform

Friday, March 31

“B” Day
St. Francis Spirit Dress: Wear a St. Francis Spirit shirt with full-length jeans or uniform bottoms
Upper School Chapel: 10:00–10:30 a.m. in Crum Gym

Monday, April 3

“A” Day
Regular Uniform

Tuesday, April 4

“B” Day
Regular Uniform

Wednesday, April 5

“A” Day
Dress Uniform
Upper School Maundy Thursday Eucharist: 10:00–10:30 a.m. on Piney Point Campus

Thursday, April 6

“B” Day
Regular Uniform
Early Dismissal at Noon

Friday, April 7

Good Friday Holiday: School closed

Church

Holy Week Schedule: April 2–9

APRIL 2: PALM SUNDAY

Services at 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 5:00 p.m.
Pageant during 9:00 a.m. service

APRIL 6: MAUNDY THURSDAY

Service at 7:00 p.m.

APRIL 7: GOOD FRIDAY

Good Friday Liturgy at noon in the church
Walk to Calvary at noon; meet in the Fine Arts Center
Seven Last Words at 1:00 p.m. in the church
Stations of the Cross at 2:00 p.m. in the church

APRIL 8: HOLY SATURDAY

Confession at 11:00 a.m.
Baptism at 4:00 p.m. (Contact Sally Jo Flores at 832.325.2983 to schedule a baptism.)

APRIL 9: EASTER SUNDAY

Services at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m.
Easter Egg Hunt at 10:00 a.m. on the field behind the Fine Arts Center

Join Us at 9:00 a.m. Each Sunday for the Following:

Sunday Worship
Let It Shine Children's Bible Lesson
Lighthouse Expressions in Art: Meet in the school's People Place (across from the Dining Hall) to create an art project based on that day's Let It Shine.
GLOW for Middle School Students (Volunteer Opportunities): Contact Allison Devlin to sign up and receive service hours.

Forgiveness Workshop Is Saturday
Father Bates will lead a forgiveness workshop this Saturday, April 1, from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the Hogan Board Room. RSVP to Sally Jo Flores via e-mail or call the church office at 713.782.1270 to sign up.

Palm Sunday Passion Play Is Sunday
Join us this coming Sunday, April 2, at 9:00 a.m. for the Palm Sunday Passion Play.

Children can participate as we re-enact the events of Holy Week, waving palm branches as Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey and reciting the Passion Gospel.
Donkey Photos: A donkey will be available for family photos in the courtyard after the service.

Walk to Calvary Is April 7
Children, meet in the Fine Art Center on Friday, April 7, at noon to follow Father Wismer and Mrs. Devlin on an interactive journey of the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. Please note: Children ages 6 and up can be dropped off while parents attend the Good Friday service in the church.

Kids' Easter Egg Hunt Is April 9
Kids, join us for He Is Risen! at Let It Shine on Sunday, April 9, at 9:00 a.m. We will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, enjoy an Easter egg hunt, and pet and feed bunnies.

Eighth Graders, Join Us for Confirmation Class
Eighth graders, if you missed the Confirmation Class Ice Cream Social and Orientation, you can still join the 2023–24 Confirmation Class. If you are in eighth grade and have not been confirmed, please contact Cindy Huteson via email or call the church office at 713.782.1270.

Join Us Wednesdays for Mom’s Bible Study

WHAT: Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul David Tripp
WHEN: Wednesdays at 8:15 a.m.
WHERE: Richmond House on the Couper Campus
FOR MORE INFORMATION: To sign up or for more information, contact Allison Devlin via email or at 713.882.0725.

Outreach Ministries

Memorial Assistance Ministries has an urgent plea from the pantry team. For additional information, contact the church's Director of Outreach Heather Burkhart.
The Fair Haven Food Pantry needs volunteers and food donations. For additional information, email Heather Burkhart. To volunteer, click here.

Dress for Success Houston Needs Our Help!
For 25 years, Dress for Success Houston (DFSH) has been dedicated to the mission of empowering women to achieve economic independence by providing professional attire, a network of support, and development tools to help women thrive in work and life. Each year, DFSH holds the Her Path Forward giving campaign, which helps provide women with access to programs, services, and tools that will help them achieve economic advancement.

How can St. Francis Outreach support DFSH’s Her Path Forward Campaign? It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Click here to make a financial donation to the Her Path Forward Campaign.
Purchase high-need attire from DFSH’s Amazon Wishlist.
Donate handbags and closed-toe shoes at DFSH (3310 Eastside). Donations are accepted on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

With questions, please email Karen Bloomfield.

Share Your Prayer Requests Online
Share your prayer requests with us using the “Prayer Requests” link on the St. Francis Episcopal Church home page.

Bible Studies at St. Francis

WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDIES

Wednesdays at 9:00–10:00 a.m.
- Study: Book of James
- Contact: Louise Richman

MEN'S BIBLE STUDIES

Tuesdays at 7:00–8:00 a.m.
- Contact: Martin O'Malley
- Location: La Madeleine (1st, 3rd, and 4th Tuesdays of each month)
Second Tuesday of Each Month at 8:00–9:30 a.m. (Next meeting is April 11.)
- Meeting: The Men of St. Francis Breakfast and Bible Study
- Study: The Life of Abraham
- Location: The Corner Bakery (9311 Katy Fwy.), breakfast included
- Contact: Sally Jo Flores
Thursdays at 6:30–8:00 a.m.
- Study: Romans
- Contact: The Rev. Stuart Bates
- Zoom Meeting Link:
  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84206856514
  - Meeting ID: 842 0685 6514
  - Passcode: Bi6Ga0

ADULT BIBLE STUDY

Sundays at 10:00–11:00 a.m.
- Study: Paul's Letter to the Romans
- Location: Hogan Board Room
- Contact: George Hippard

How to Watch Sunday Service Via Livestream
To join St. Francis Episcopal Church’s 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. Sunday service via livestream, open an Internet browser on your computer, laptop, or phone. Type in the St. Francis website—sfch.org. Click on the “Watch Live Stream Worship Services” button. Either the 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. service will be available.